Edinburgh’s Bus Station will stay open during the next phase of the tram works on York Place and buses will have access all the way along Princes Street from this weekend, the City of Edinburgh Council announced today.
The decision was taken after productive joint discussions between the Council, in collaboration with the contractors, and bus operators and follows good progress on York Place and Princes Street, by the contractors.
Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: -“We have been listening to the local community and bus operators who stressed that access to the bus station during the course of the tram works was a high priority. However, it was also important to balance this with the need to continue to make good and steady progress to complete the works”.
During this next phase of tram works, buses will be able to access the bus station via a diversion route using Leith Street, Little King Street, St. James Place and Elder Street. Taxis and cars will also be able to access the bus station via this route to allow passengers to be dropped off.
Buses will exit the station via Elder Street and York Place. A single lane along York Place will be available solely for bus traffic exiting the bus station towards Picardy Place.
Access will be maintained to the St. James Centre and John Lewis car parks.
On Princes Street, the tram works have also progressed well in recent months and from 10pm tonight buses will have access in both directions along Princes Street, using a signal controlled lane at South St. Andrew Street.
To make these changes, South St. David Street will be closed to all traffic travelling towards Waverley Bridge at its junction with Princes Street from 5am on Saturday, 15 September 2012. All traffic will be diverted along Hanover Street, The Mound and Market Street.
Princes Street is currently anticipated to be fully open for buses, taxis and cycles from the end of November.
To accommodate these traffic management changes, the west end of York Place will be closed to all traffic between Queen Street and Elder Street from 1am on Saturday, 22 September 2012.
During the next phase of tram works, pedestrian footpaths on York Place will remain open at all times providing access to all shops and businesses and there will be well-signed crossing points installed throughout the worksite areas. A traffic lane will be available at all times within the worksite for emergency service access.
In addition, the Council will continue to offer support to any businesses that may require assistance with deliveries to their premises in York Place.
Lothian Buses and other bus companies will publish any new bus stop locations in advance of the changes taking place.
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